DISABILITY AND ARCHITECTONICAL BARRIERS: A CHALLENGE FOR THE INCLUSION

Abstract

Throughout their whole existence people with disabilities have been confronted with an aggressive treatment full of contradictions based on the ignorance about the real meaning of the concept disability, and how this affects these people and their environment. International organizations have stated that more than 650 millions people with disabilities live in our planet. Beyond their own limitations, the context factors are those that make them more difficult to live and experience their every day life. Architectonical and physical barriers so well as the proper access to information and education and, mainly, those aspects that concerns beliefs and social practices are the principal factors that result in social exclusion. The disability condition is an ecological concept, defined by the relationship of this person with his context. Our job is to tear down all those barriers - architectonical or of any other nature - that hinders their authentic social inclusion. We have to move toward the idea of having in mind not only the aesthetic and beauty of our architecture but also an attitude of ethical behavior.